Pro-Pluto Protest

A 76-year reign brought to an ignominious halt

The underdog of the solar system, Pluto was recognized as the farthest, smallest, coldest, and weirdest planet since its 1930 discovery by nerd hero Clyde W. Tombaugh (only 24 at the time). But Pluto-lovers were dealt a blow by the International Astronomical Union when in 2006 they controversially reclassified it as a dwarf planetone step down from a full-fledged planet, in the same class as Ceres (upgraded from asteroid) and the recently discovered Eris, even remoter and larger than Pluto. Now Plutos merely the biggest object in the Kuiper Belt. Big whoop. Youth writing center 826 Seattle is staging a protest march and rally, culminating in kids reading their persuasive essays arguing that Plutos status should be reinstated. Just as Plutos orbit does, the march route will pass by NeptuneNeptune Coffee, that is, across the street from 826 Seattle and Greenwood Space Travel Supply, 8414 Greenwood Ave. N., 725-2625, www.826seattle.org. 4 p.m. GAVIN BORCHERT